William F. Buckley, Jr. was an American author, political commentator, television personality, and politician. He was a political conservative. He was the host of the show Firing Line from 1966 to 1999. It was the longest-running public affairs show with a single host. William was a candidate for Mayor of New York City in 1965, for the Conservative Party.

William was the son of Aloise Josephine Antonia (Steiner) and William Frank Buckley, Sr., who was a lawyer and oil developer. William’s father was born in Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas, to Canadian parents, of Irish descent. William’s mother was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, of Swiss-German, German, and Irish descent. William was a devout Catholic.

William’s paternal grandparents were John C. Buckley (the son of John Buckley and Ellen Doran) and Mary Ann Langford (the daughter of Charles William Langford and Hannah P. Lane). William’s grandparents John and Mary were both from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and all of their own parents were Irish. Hannah was the daughter of Edmund Lane and Johanna.

William’s maternal grandfather was Louis Aloysius Steiner (the son of Josef Alois Christian Steiner and Barbara Rohrbacher). Louis was born in Louisiana, to German and Swiss-German parents. Josef was the son of Josef Alois Steiner and Maria Francisca Christina Steiner.

William’s maternal grandmother was Marie Louise Wassem (the daughter of George Henry Wassem and Mary Ann Lee). William’s grandmother Marie Louise was born in Louisiana. George was German, from Prussia, the son of John Henry Wassem. William’s great-grandmother Mary Ann’s parents were Irish.